12.8.1 Use of Nanotechnology in Recycling Tagging and Tracking
for Waste Minimization
This nanotechnology is considered as the best method for the recycling of the
product, because of its various features. This technology identifies and differentiates
the products according to their method which will be used for their recycling. Many
nanomaterials are used as the nano-sized physical tags having some unique
signatures such as carbon nanotubes, nanowires, etc. They have the property of
forming the multilayered structure which will incorporate in the product like plastics,
electronics, etc. These tags will help in tracking the product from its manufacturing
time to its end-of-life. The reason for their use as tags is their small size because of
which the basic structure of the product do not changes. Also these nano-sized tags
can never be removed from the products and thus easily identified by the methods
like optical, electronic and magnetic detection. Also these tags have the unique
signatures, which makes them different from other and thus used in various physical
and chemical products manufacturers, which help them to separate their products
from each other at the end-of-life of their products according to different methods of
recycling. This method also helps in reducing the amount of waste that goes to the
landfill and thus reduction in the quantity of leachate produced.
12.8.2 Lifecycle of a Pellet
In this example, the life cycle of a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) pellet is matched
against the stages of the recycling exchange, which serves as a platform that collects,
tracks, and verifies whether the product ends up in the recycling stream (Figs. 12.1
and 12.8).
1. Exploration and production—This stage involves the elimination of the oil from
the reserve or produce hydrocarbons from the source which is bio-based.
2. Materials and manufacturing—In this stage, the pellet formation occurs. The
manufacturer refines the chemicals and converts them to the size of pellets or
flakes. The pellets will have the unique information in the form of tags. Then the
details on the tags are sent to the Recycling Exchange department which will store
this data in their central database, and later will sent these pellets to the OEM
product manufacturing companies where they incorporate these in their products
(Fitch et al. 2012).
3. OEM—In this stage, the pellets will undergo various processes such as extrusion,
injection molding, blow molding, and other film molding in order to form the
final product such as the plastic bottle. Then the OEMs will include more
nanotechnology tagging and tracking technologies which help in sorting and
the separation of the product more easily. Then the details like material origin,
material recycling locations, and promotions, incentives, and discounts are again
incorporated into the products and will again send the information to the
Recycling Exchange department which will store the data in their central data.
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S. Vyas et al.
for Waste Minimization
This nanotechnology is considered as the best method for the recycling of the
product, because of its various features. This technology identifies and differentiates
the products according to their method which will be used for their recycling. Many
nanomaterials are used as the nano-sized physical tags having some unique
signatures such as carbon nanotubes, nanowires, etc. They have the property of
forming the multilayered structure which will incorporate in the product like plastics,
electronics, etc. These tags will help in tracking the product from its manufacturing
time to its end-of-life. The reason for their use as tags is their small size because of
which the basic structure of the product do not changes. Also these nano-sized tags
can never be removed from the products and thus easily identified by the methods
like optical, electronic and magnetic detection. Also these tags have the unique
signatures, which makes them different from other and thus used in various physical
and chemical products manufacturers, which help them to separate their products
from each other at the end-of-life of their products according to different methods of
recycling. This method also helps in reducing the amount of waste that goes to the
landfill and thus reduction in the quantity of leachate produced.
12.8.2 Lifecycle of a Pellet
In this example, the life cycle of a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) pellet is matched
against the stages of the recycling exchange, which serves as a platform that collects,
tracks, and verifies whether the product ends up in the recycling stream (Figs. 12.1
and 12.8).
1. Exploration and production—This stage involves the elimination of the oil from
the reserve or produce hydrocarbons from the source which is bio-based.
2. Materials and manufacturing—In this stage, the pellet formation occurs. The
manufacturer refines the chemicals and converts them to the size of pellets or
flakes. The pellets will have the unique information in the form of tags. Then the
details on the tags are sent to the Recycling Exchange department which will store
this data in their central database, and later will sent these pellets to the OEM
product manufacturing companies where they incorporate these in their products
(Fitch et al. 2012).
3. OEM—In this stage, the pellets will undergo various processes such as extrusion,
injection molding, blow molding, and other film molding in order to form the
final product such as the plastic bottle. Then the OEMs will include more
nanotechnology tagging and tracking technologies which help in sorting and
the separation of the product more easily. Then the details like material origin,
material recycling locations, and promotions, incentives, and discounts are again
incorporated into the products and will again send the information to the
Recycling Exchange department which will store the data in their central data.
274
S. Vyas et al.